HEADING DEEPER INTO THE SOUTH AS WE GO NORTH

Trip Day:           17        Latitude:            30°17.07' N                       Locks Today:    0

Miles Today:   47         Longitude:      081°22.79' W                      Locks Total:     6

Total Miles:    549        Location:          Little St Simons Island, GA           

It was quiet and calm as we weighed anchor and said goodbye to Cumberland Island.  The U.S. Coast was patrolling the area around Kings Point Submarine Base.

We headed north and it took us three hours to approach the northern tip of the island.  We viewed the Atlantic Ocean when we reached St. Andrews Sound, the inlet between Cumberland and Jekyll Islands, and we experienced very strong currents.  Our speed went from 6.3 to 3.00 kts when we rounded the point and the current was against us. 

    What a nice surprise to see these three on horses as we passed the northern tip of Jekyll Island.

  St. Simons Lighthouse.



We are stilled surprised when we see white pelicans which are rare on our coast of Florida.




Can you see the next marker?????
















We are tucked into Wilson Creek off the ICW for a peaceful night at anchor.  Ron is heating the grill for an early dinner and we have the screens on all the hatches in preparation for no-seeum's (an Indian word, as in "me no seeum"!)

WELCOME TO GEORGIA - CUMBERLAND ISLAND

Trip Day:         16        Latitude:            30°46.02' N                        Locks Today:    0

Miles Today:       5        Longitude:     081°28.33' W                      Locks Total:     6

Total Miles:    502        Location:          Cumberland Island, GA

We only traveled five miles today and anchored off the National Parks System's docks of Cumberland Island.  Continue at your own risk as we tour the island and relate the history .  .  .

For thousands of years people have lived on Cumberland Island which is a 17 mile island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Cumberland Sound on the other.  Today dense palmettos and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss cover the island.

Some of the live oaks are more than 400 years old.

Thomas Carnegie, partner and brother of the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, began building Dungeness Mansion in 1884.  He died a year later but his wife, Lucy, remained to raise their nine children on Cumberland Island. 

After Lucy’s death the children failed to maintain Dungeness Mansion, then in 1959 a fire    destroyed the mansion. These are the ruins of the Dungeness.

As each child married, Lucy built a home as a wedding gift. Plum Orchard was built in 1898 for her son George and his wife Margaret Thaw. It is a 22,000 square foot mansion with 11 bathrooms, a pool, and an indoor squash court.

(Interior photos in the slideshow.)

In the 1890s, The Settlement was established for freed slaves and the First African Baptist Church was established in 1893. 

  Horses were brought to the island to work the plantations, pull the buggies and as Polo mounts for the Carnegie boys. In the end, the horses were set free and today their descendents still roam free to find food, birth their foals and survive on their own without outside help or interference.

We had a wonderful day on Cumberland Island and leave with a greater appreciation of its history and beauty.

As we boarded our dinghy to return to the boat, we noticed this sub leaving King’s Bay Submarine Base.

If you are not totally bored .  .  . want more .  .  . click on the slide show.

 

STEPPING BACK IN TIME

Trip Day:          15        Latitude:            30°40.19' N                        Locks Today:    0

Miles Today:      0        Longitude:     081°28.22' W                      Locks Total:     6

Total Miles:    497        Location:           Fernandina Beach, FL / Amelia Island

The historic downtown of Fernandina Beach is a gingerbread seaport dating from the 1850s. 

Historic homes built in 1850 - 1890 grace both sides of the streets for several blocks.  Some homes are now Bed and Breakfast such as the one on the left.    Until just a few years ago all the homes were still owned by decendents of the orginal families and most still are.



The house above was purchased from the Sears Roebuck Catalogue in 1905 and built on site for $1,000.

At left, St. Michael's Catholic Church built in 1871.








Jean has made a new friend at The Palace Saloon, the oldest tavern in Florida.

















FORT CLINCH

FERNANDINA BEACH - Northernmost City in Florida

Trip Day:         14        Latitude:            30°40.19' N                      Locks Today:    0

Miles Today:    32        Longitude:     081°28.22' W                      Locks Total:     6

Total Miles:    497        Location:          Fernandina Beach, FL / Amelia Island

 

We got underway at 9:00 after a light breakfast at "The Galley" at Palm Cove Marina.  We entered the Saint John’s River at 10:15 am with a strong current against us.  At noon navigation was a bit challenging at the southern tip of Amelia Island where several rivers flowed into Nassau Sound. 

Fernandina Beach, which is on Amelia Island, is Florida’s northernmost city.  It was discovered in 1562 by the French explorer Jean Ribault who named it Isle de Mai, then later settled by the Spanish in 1567 who renamed it Santa Maria and built Fort San Fernando.  In 1702, the British captured the island and named it Amelia Island in honor of King George II’s daughter.

Eight different flags have flown over Amelia Island and in the early years, pirates and smugglers used it as their stronghold; later, during Prohibition, rum-runners did the same. As we run up the Amelia Island coast we are under sail and enjoying the marsh lands on each side of the ICW.  

Early afternoon we picked up our mooring across the channel from the historic old town in view of the shrimp boats.

We will go ashore this afternoon, then catch the Gator game at the Palace Saloon, the oldest tavern in Florida. 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY FROM PARADISE

MARCH 17, 2012 - A DAY ASHORE IN PONTE VEDRA

Today was a “Day in Paradise” at Pam and Dave’s home in Ponte Vedra.  We had dinner last night at Barbara Jean’s (great pot roast) on the ICW and lunch at Nipper’s today (fabulous conch chowder).  There is nothing like southern hospitality—Pam and Dave made us feel like family and we so enjoyed our time with them and Kathy and Ken. 

 Pam and Dave's home which has a rich history of an old house being brought to the site on a barge then an addition which carefully maintains the architecture and charm of the home. 

 Looking out from the wrap-around porch to the dock directly on the ICW.  It was so easy to fall in love with this little piece of heaven where Pam and Dave extend their hospitality to family and friends and share their stories.

PAM AND KATHY ON OUR BOAT

We slept in this delightful little cottage, which was the original home on the land.

NORTH TO JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL

Trip Day:          12           Latitude:            30°17.39' N                                 Locks Today:    0

Miles Today:    30           Longitude:       081°25.88' W                            Locks Total:     6

Total Miles:    465           Location:           Jacksonville Beach , FL    

Headed out in our trusted dinghy to have breakfast at Athena’s Café on the square.  This is the view of the boat on the mooring as we returned. 






This area of ICW has greater tidal change than our West Coast—last night there was a drop of 6’ in water depth at tidal change.

Checking tide tables is essential.

Our kind of dock - GATOR flags flying!

After a couple of hours the winds allowed us to motor-sail.  We flew the mainsail and the screecher and had a smooth run for a couple of hours.  This area of the ICW, along the    Tolomato River, is undeveloped marsh lands with a deep channel.  There were plenty of    fishermen on small boats along the shores.  . .  .speaking of   fishing, Ron has yet to provide a fish for dinner.

Tonight the boat is resting in the  Palm Cove Marina (MM 748) in Jacksonville Beach—748 miles from Norfolk, VA which is mile marker 0 on the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway.  We are accepting an offer of hospitality to stay ashore at Pam and Dave's home - Pam is Kathy H's sister - who live on the ICW in Ponte Vedra.  We will enjoy dinner with Kathy, Ken, Pam and Dave while we gain our land legs.

                                                  *   *    *   BIRDS OF THE DAY *   *   *

US ARMY BIRDS OF PREY             

TRAVELING BACK IN TIME AS WE MOVE FORWARD

Trip Day:          11         Latitude: 29°53.79' N                            Locks Today: 0
Miles Today:    53         Longitude: 081°18.63' W                      Locks Total: 6
Total Miles:    435         Location: St. Augustine, FL

We witnessed an amazing sunset last night and a beautiful sunrise this morning as we lifted anchor and got underway.

OSPREY WITH HIS PREY

We lifted anchor and left our cozy spot with light winds and glass calm water to head north.   Passing through Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve was a touch of original Florida with ample bird and water life scenes. 

Entering St. Augustine through The Bridge of Lions

St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States.  It was first settled in 1565 as a Spanish military outpost.

 

GATES TO OLD TOWN

VIEW OF CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS FROM OUR MOORING